Surf Coast

Moss And Lichen At Distillery Creek Picnic Ground

Jade Craven · July 7, 2017 · Leave a Comment

After exploring Anglesea, Carolyn and I headed to Distillery Creek Picnic Ground. She met a fellow birder sitting by a small pond/dam and stayed with him while I went exploring.

I love birds, but there is a lot of work required to find one species. Whereas a good hour spent wandering around a picnic ground can yield all of this! I’d been housebound and bored for so long and just wanted to explore.

Unfortunately, I can’t share much information with you regarding any of the names as it’s way beyond my knowledge level. I do know I’m planning to return to do a couple of the hikes here and at Moggs Creek Picnic Ground nearby. The Surf Coast has so much hidden awesomeness, I love it 🙂

First Visit To Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary

Jade Craven · May 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment

These photos were taken on my birthday in 2013. My family and Glenn spent the day exploring the Surf Coast between Torquay and Lorne. It was a magnificent day trip and we stopped at most of the turn offs we could find.

This was how I found Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary. I fell in love with the rock formations and loved photographing the area. I’m so keen to slowly walk the entire Surf Coast Walk and photograph all of the hidden gems. This coastline isn’t as lovely as many parts of the Great Ocean Walk, but it’s still really awesome.

Winter visit Point Addis and Ironbark Basin

Jade Craven · June 27, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Ironbark Basin could easily become my new Balyang. It is a fascinating area. The nature walk, which I’ve done multiple times, reveals new things with each visit. Unlike other areas of the surf coast, it feels self contained.

We started off at Point Addis, which didn’t reveal any interesting sea critters nor bristlebirds.

It had have a vandalized sign though. The irony of ‘YOLO’ written on a sign warning about potential danger was not lost on me.

It was incredibly chilly. I saw a couple of fairy wrens along the walk. The wind made for interesting photos.

Ironbark Basin

There weren’t many birds around this day. A golden whistler, a smattering of honeyeaters and a lot of lorikeets. I instead chose to focus on fungi… and not overexerting myself from the walk up!

I was so excited until it was pointed out that this was mould growing on animal poop. Seth loves to mock me for this.

There was some beautiful fungi but alas, nothing really good enough to help with ID’ing.

Owlet nightjar! I stupidly squealed with delight upon seeing this, and the little guy wouldn’t come out for the subsequent 20 minutes. I can be such a bloody moron sometimes. It was so amazing and such an honour to see this bird. It is one of the few species that genuinely get me really exciting. So fascinating.

There wasn’t much to report with this trip, but I still highly recommend the area. I’m so keen to show the area off to my family however I think the bush block will be the main priority over the colder months.

Exploring Anglesea Heathland

Jade Craven · June 20, 2016 · Leave a Comment

A week ago, I went on a lovely trip to the Surf Coast with Carolyn and Grace. I’ve been pretty anti social this year and hadn’t seen Carolyn in two months so it was nice to catch up. We spent the morning exploring Ironbark Basin and then ended up in the back roads of Angelsea.

I love Angelsea. It is a lot more relaxed then Lorne and contains such biodiversity. We ended up running into other members of the field nats when looking for orchids.

I don’t recall what the above species is, as orchids definitely aren’t my forte. However, I did learn how to find orchids in the future. I’m hoping this comes in handy at the property.

Found some amazing fungi specimens, considerably different to what I found at the basin. Alas. I was so used to gilled fungi that I didn’t know what data to collect. Oops!

Playing with light in the afternoon… as one does 😉 I really need to start using the filter again.

Insects

Angelsea was definitely the best for insects, especially the area around gum flats. I’ve had no luck with identifications however I now know how to tell the different between a cranefly and mosquito.

The above is a cranefly because it clearly lacks the probiscus. I don’t think I have enough detail though for a proper ID. I don’t know how to tell between a cranefly and long legged fly.

Matchstick grasshopper. It hopped before I could get a decent photo. Below is obviously the cucoon of a moth species. Great camouflage.

Also found this moth.

Would love to explore here more in the warmer months. I also got the idea to use ribbon to note where I’ve made interesting sightings, it seems cheaper then a GPS. 🙂 I learned so much – but I’m also learning that there has to be limits. I can’t learn and know everything. I think with orchids I will photograph them, and certainly keep an eye out for any at the property. However, that is as far as the interest goes. I don’t have the mental capacity to add too much flora information to my brain at the moment.

Crested tern Grooming: Bancoora Beach.

Jade Craven · March 16, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Last month, I went to Bancoora beach with family. Sethy had fun playing with the ocean and I observed a small group of crested terns for half an hour. I *was* hoping to add another bird to my collection of bird poo photos. Alas, I had very little luck.

The photos aren’t great. It was a struggle, as other birds including the seagulls kept on getting in the way. I do want to focus on various tern species now that that I can explore different places. The crest is so fascinating to photograph.

I have no idea what the below bird is. I couldn’t get a good look. I include it just in case someone can identify it.